Ban on annoying 'robocalls' begins

You soon may be hearing a lot fewer of those maddening recorded telephone pitches for everything from car insurance to debt-consolidation services.

Starting Tuesday, telemarketers will need written permission from consumers to solicit them through automated telemarketing messages, sometimes called "robocalls," the Federal Trade Commission said.

Even people who have not signed up for the federal Do Not Call Registry, as well as those who have done business in the past with the solicitors, now are protected from unwanted automated calls. But you still may get calls from live telemarketers unless you put your name on state or federal do-not-call lists.

Consumer advocates called the action a huge change to the national Telemarketing Sales Rule. Commission officials said the agency had targeted robocalls because the practice seemed to particularly annoy consumers, as there was no way for them to complain to an operator.

Tuesday's change completes the phase-in of 2008 amendments to the federal telemarketing rule. The first part, which went into effect Dec. 1, required telemarketers to tell consumers how to avoid receiving future messages and to provide an automated opt-out mechanism.

But there are exemptions to the new federal rule: automated political solicitations; informational calls about things such as flight delays and school closings; debt collection; calls from banks or wireless companies; or charitable solicitations.

No goods or services, however, can be offered. So while a debt collection company could call about getting a payment, it could not then try to sell you a debt consolidation plan.

For more information or to file a complaint, go to ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).